Unit enclosures



May 9, 1967 R. H. BISHOP 3,318,647

UNIT ENCLOSURES Filed Oct. ll, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet l Hal W *E* IN FIG' 3 7 VENTOR.

ROBERT H. BISHOP ATTDRNE YS.

R. H. BISHOP UNIT ENCLOSURES May 9, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001'.. l1, 1965 Fi@n 5 INVENTOR. ROBERT H. BISHOP vn/1u, M@ LMI ATTORNEYS.

R. H. BISHOP UNIT ENGLOSURES .May 9, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct.. ll, 1965 INVENTOR. ROBERT H. BISHOP FIG] ATTORNEYS.

R. H. BISHOP UNIT ENCLOSURES May 9; `1967 Filed oct. 11, 1965 4 Sheetsheet 4 INVENTOR. ROBERT H. BISHOP ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,313,641 UNIT ENCLUSURES Robert H. Bishop, S W. Park St., Champaign, Ill. 6152@ Filed (Bet. 11, 1965, Ser. No. 494,553 6 Claims. (Cl. 312-257) This invention relates to unit enclosures for housing heat exchangers, such as air conditioning heat exchanger units, radiators, or the like.

Heat exchangers such as radiators, induction units, fan coil units, terminal reheat units, and the like, when posi tioned in the interior of buildings are sometimes housed within ventilated enclosures. Such. enclosures are provided for aesthetic reasons, to prevent direct physical contact between the heat exchanger and the occupants of the room so as to avoid injury to either, and other reasons. Such enclosures are sometimes formed from pressed sheet metal and are secured about the heat ex` changer by suitable connectors connected to appropriate supporting structures. Such sheet metal enclosures sometimes suler from the disadvantage that in order to gain access to the interior, -as may be required for maintenance and repair, it is necessary to detach the entire enclosure from its support-ing fixtures. Another disadvantage sometimes associated with sheet metal enclosures is that they may be performed to the desired dimension at a factory which makes it ditlicult or even impossible to achieve a properly or custom fitted enclosure `at the site of installation if, as is sometimes the case in practice, there `are environmental discrepancies such as variations in the vertical and lateral dimension of the building or the unit to be enclosed. Accordingly, a real need has arisen for a ventilated unit enclosure which provides easy access to its interior for maintenance of equipment contained therein, which may be easily adjusted at the time of installation to conform to the interior surfaces of the building in which it is to be installed and which can be fabricated at the site of installation by relatively unskilled persons.

In recognition of the need for an improved unit enclosure of the type heretofore described, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a unit enclosure which substantially obviates or minimizes problems such as those previously noted.

Accordingly, it is a particular object of the invention to provide a unit enclosure so constructed that access to its interior may be particularly conveniently provided without any need for removing the entire unit or for releasing any retaining device.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a unit enclosure which lends itself to convenient on-site assembly in spite of variations or imperfections in dimensioning of the enclosure itself or of the installation environment.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a composite unit enclosure in which the connectors joining the elements are entirely concealed within the body of the enclosure.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a unit enclosure which may be easily erected at the site of installation to accommodate any size of radiator or like equipment.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a unit enclosure having a lower installation cost and capable of close tolerance fit to building walls, sills and floors.

In achieving these and other objects as will become apparent hereinafter, the present invention in its preferred embodiment provides a unit enclosusre adapted for installation within a building, intended to house equipment within the enclosure. The enclosure unit includes a pair 3,318,647 Patented May 9, 1967 ICC of spaced opposed, generally vertical wall means, at least one of which is connected to an interior surface of the building. The wall means are connected together in spaced relation by cross members adjacent their upper extremities. At least one of the vertical wall means comprises a longitudinally extending top member provided with a downwardly directed upper channel dened by spaced opposed, downwardly directed central and outer webs. A plurality of longitudinally spaced, vertically extending, mullions or vertical supports, having their upper extremities received within the upper channel, depend from the top member. Each mullion i11- cludes vertically extending side surfaces. The side surfaces of ladjacent mullions are provided with supporting flanges which extend vertically from the lower extremity of the mullion part way up. The lower extremities of the mullions are positioned on a longitudinally extending, horizontally disposed bottom member and are received within a lower channel dened by two spaced opposed, upwardly directed Webs. To enclose the unit and direct the flow of air inwardly thereof, a plurality of vertical panels or grilles is provided. Each vertical panel is removably positioned between the bottom members and extends between a pair of adjacent mullions. Each panel rests on the bottom member with its outer surface adjacent its upper and lower extremities, abutting the inner surfaces of the outer webs of the top and bottom mem bers and with its inner surfaces adjacent its longitudinal extremities abutting the side anges of ladjacent mullions so that each panel may be removed from the enclosure unit by simply lifting it upwardly out of the lower channel and then swinging it forwardly out of and down from the upper channel, p

The invention also includes provision for variation in width necessitated by imperfections in manufacture or in the installation environment. For this purpose, each of the top members is provided with a longitudinally extending, inwardly, directed7 horizontal flange adjacent its lower extremity. A plurality of longitudinally spaced, laterally extending cross members having their opposed extremities positioned on the lower flanges and connected thereto is provided. Each top member includes a laterally extending upper surface having a depending web at its inner edge provided with a horizontal central flange at its free extremity abutting the cross members and connected thereto. Each cross member at its points of connection to the lower flanges and central flanges of the top members is provided withlaterally elongate slots to permit the width `of the unit to be varied during installation according to the demands of the site in whichit is being installed. `In order to direct air passing outwardly of the enclosure unit, a longitudinally extending top panel or grille is positioned within a top channel defined by the depending webs and is supported on the upper surfaces of the central flanges from which it may be readily removed when it is desired to gain access to the interior of the enclosure.

A second embodiment of the invention, similarly provided with a liftout top panel to permit ready access to the interior of the enclosure, adapted for supporting and housing a radiator of the iin-tube type is also disclosed. This `second embodiment comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced, U-shaped rigid hangers each of which includes a horizontal portion for supporting the iin tube radiator provided with spaced opposed vertical arms at its extremities. The invention includes spaced opposed wall means positioned along the vertical arms, at least one of which wall means is provided with a longitudinally extending top member. The top member comprises an outer wall having a spaced depending web extending along its upper extremity defining a channel within which amaca? the extremities of the vertical arms may be received. The

epending web includes a horizontal, inwardly directed channel adjacent its lower extremity dened by spaced upper and lower inwardly directed flanges. The horizontal channel receives the ext-remities of a plurality of longitudinally spaced strengthening cross members attached to the other vertical wall means. In this manner a strong structure which may be assembled, if desired, `without the use of fasteners is provided.

In describing the invention, reference is made to a preferred embodiment illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top view of a unit enclosure according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front view of the unit enclosure shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the unit enclosure shown in FIGURE 2, taken along the lines 3 3, showing the front and top panels;

FIGURE 4 is `a cross-sectional top view of the unit enclosure shown in FIGURE 3 taken along the lines 4-4 showing the laterally elongate holes in the cross member and bracket;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional rear view of the unit enclosure shown in FIGURE 3 taken along the lines 5-5 showing the vertically elongate holes in the brackets and front top member;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional side view of -another embodiment of the present invention showing the provision of pressed metal panels;

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional top view of a third embodiment of the present invention showing an alternative mounting for a pressed metal, top panel;

FIGURE 8 shows a cross-sectional side view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGURE 9 shows a perspective view of an end cap utilized in conjunction with a unit enclosure shown in FIGURE 8.

Referring to FIGURES l and 2 of the drawings, `a ventilated unit enclosure according to the present invention comprises a rectangular enclosure 2 including spaced, horizontally disposed top and bottom members 4 and 6 supported by spaced mullions 8 positioned on brackets 10 secured to a lloor 11. Removable, louvered vertical panels 12 are positioned between the top and bottom front members 4 and 6 between adjacent mullions 8 to direct air in its Ipassage through the enclosure. A second top member 14 spaced from the front top member extends outwardly from within a wall attachment member 16 secured to a wall 17. Removable top panels 18, to direct air outwardly of the unit enclosure positioned between the front and back top members, are additionally provided. Banking panels 20 extend between the front and back top members at the mullions and are of equal width thereto. An advantage of the invention is the ease with which both the vertical panel 12 and the top panel 18 may be removed by lifting them out of the enclosure without requiring release of any retaining part.

Referring in more detail to FIGURE 3, the wall attachment member 16 comprises an E-shaped channel having a tlat base 26 provided with spaced opposed outwardly directed upper, central and lower llanges 28, 29 and 30 delining upper and lower channels 31 and 32. Base 26 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced holes 33 for securing screws 34 which attach member 16 to the wall 17.

Holes 33 are vertically elongated so as to enable alterations in height and alignment of the wall attachment member 16 to be readily effected.

In order to increase thermal ellciency of the unit enclosure, a continuous strip of insulation 36 extends between lower tlange 36 and the iloor 11.

Extending outwardly from wall attachment member are a plurality of longitudinal spaced cross members 37 of Z cross section, each of which has upper and lower flanges 38, 39. Each of the cross mem-bers is attached by its lower flange 39 adjacent one of its extremities to the upper surface of the lower flange 30 of the wall attachment member 16, by a bolt positioned in a laterally elongate hole. The cross members are of Z section to provide structural rigidity and to allow ease of accessibility to the bolted connections on the upper and lower flanges 38, 39.

The other extremity of each cross member 37 is attached to a horizontally flange 40 positioned iat the free extremity of a vertical central web 42 extending downwardly at right angles from the interior surface of the front top member 2. Connection is by a bolt running in a laterally elongate hole so as to allow for lateral adjustment.

A depending web 44 positioned along the rearward ex tremity of the front top member 2 extending downwardly therefrom, terminates in a rearwardly extending horizontal llange 46 having a forwardly extending portion 48. An additional bolted connection between llange 48 of the front top member and the upper surface of the upper llange 38 of the Z-shaped cross member 37 is provided, utilizing a laterally elongate hole in cross member 37.

Front top member 2 is additionally provided with an outer depending web 70 spaced from `and parallel to web 42 and dening an upper channel therebetween in which the upper extremities of the mullions 8 are securely received and supported.

In order to adjust the position of the back top member 2 relative to the Wall in order to compensate for undulations of the wall along its length or to allow for imperfections in the dimensions of the unit itself, the back top member 14 is slidably positioned beneath the lower surface of upper flange 28 of wall attachment member 16. The back top member may be moved forwardly in and out beneath upper flange 28 of wall attachment member 16 so as to compensate for such variations without opening an unsightly gap therebetween, in an advantageous manner. Back top member 14 is provided with a depending web 54 at its forward extremity extending along its length having a coextensive, forwardly extending horizontal flange 56 positioned at its free extremity. Flange 56 includes a rearwardly extending horizontal portion 58 boltedly connected to upper flange 38 of cross member 37.

As best seen in FIGURE 4, the bolted connection includes a laterally elongate hole so as to allow freedom of lateral adjustment of the back top member 14 with respect to the cross member and to the wall attachment member 16 so that variations in wall dimension may be readily conformed to.

In order to support the front top member, a plurality of longitudinally spaced mullions 8 each supported on a bracket 10 are provided. As best seen from FIGURE 4, each mullion 8 comprises a generally box-shaped channel open along one longitudinal surface, including a base 60 provided with two rearwardly directed webs 61 at its extremities, each of which is provided with an inwardly directed flange 62 extending inwardly parallel to base 60. Each of the flanges 62 is `boltedly connected to the forward surface of central web 42 of the front support member 2.

Vertically elongate holes are provided in central web 42 to allow for vertical adjustment of the front support 2 with respect to the mullion 8, thereby permitting the vertical dimension of the enclosure unit to be varied to cornpensate for irregularities in the surface of the floor in an advantageous manner.

To support the mullions 8, a plurality of vertically extending, tloor mounted, brackets 10 is provided. Each bracket 10 includes a vertical portion 63 provided with vertically elongate holes 64 adapted for bolted connection to an adjacent mullion 8. Each bracket 10 also includes a horizontal portion 65 provided with laterally elongate holes 66 adapted for bolted connection to the lloor.

A longitudinally extending vertical trim plate 67 may be positioned `on the outer surface of the vertical portion 63 of brackets 10 extending continuously therebetween along the base of the unit.

The mullions 8 are additionally provided with vertically extending sidewardly directed flanges 68 extending outwardly at right angles from each of webs 62 adjacent the mid portions thereof. The flanges 68 extend vertically from the lower extremity of the mullion 8 to a level slightly below that of the lower extremity of forward web 70 of front member 2. The anges 63 support the panel 12 in position in a manner described hereinafter.

The lower extremities of the mullions are received within a lower channel 81 of the bottom Imember 6. Lower channel 81 is defined by `a horizontal central flange 76 provided with spaced opposed, upwardly extending webs 74 and 78 extending along its edges. Web 74 is positioned between mullions 8 and vertical portions 63 of brackets 10 and secured thereto by bolts.

A downwardly directed lip 80 extends downwardly from the liange 76 and is continuous with web 78.

It will be seen that the laterally elongate slots provided in brackets 10 and cross members 37 permit the cross members, and the top member and back top member to be adjusted laterally with respect to the wall in order to adjust for any deviations from regularity that may occur along its length. Similarly, the vertically elongate slots provided in bracket 10 and the central web 42 of the front top Imember allow for any vertical adjustment of the enclosure members that may be needed. It will also be -noted that the construction described conceals all the bolted connections within the frame ofthe enclosure thereby enhancing the appearance and attractiveness of the device.

Another major feature of the invention now to be described is the provision of removable top and vertical panels which may be detached from the enclosure without requiring any preliminary release of retaining parts as has heretofore been required.

The front of the ventilated unit enclosure is provided with removable vertical panels 12. Each of the vertical panels 12 comprises a plurality of spaced, parallel, identical, longitudinally extending metal sections secured together along their rear surfaces adjacent their extremities by joining bars 84 which may be attached thereto by welding or any other suitable process such as, for example, adhesive bonding.

It will be seen that this superior form of panel construction has many advantages over the conventional stamped metal panel in that it provides a superior appearance, allows more complicated panel shapes to be provided, offers greater rigidity and durability and enables beading to be provided on the blades to give an attractive shadow effect without reducing their effective area.

Each vertical panel 12 is securely, yet removably, supported between adjacent mullions 8 on bottom member 6 by a vertically extending supporting flange 68 on adjacent mullions 8 which support its rearward vertical edges and by longitudinally extending outer web 51 of top member 2 and web 78 of bottom member 6 which support its forward surface adjacent its vertical extremities.

To remove the panel 12, it is only necessary to raise it out of the lower channel S1 until its lower edge 83 is above the upper edge of the 4flange 78 of bottom member 6 and then to tilt the lower extremity 83 outwardly of the enclosure, lafter which it may be entirely withdrawn. It will be seen that access to the interior of the enclosure can thereby easily be obtained without any prior release of anyretaining or latching device and without requiring total removal of the enclosure from the equipment enclosed.

Rattling or looseness of the panels 12 within the enclosureis eliminated by providing strips 84 and 86 of resilient material along the rearward faces of the anges 70 and 80 of the top and lbottom front members. The upper and lower extremities -of the panel 12 abut the resilient sealing strips 84 and 86 in compressing relationship and are thereby restrained against rattling.

To provide an upper outlet for air passing through the enclosure unit, a plurality of longitudinally extending top panels 18 is also provided. Each top panel 18 comprises a plurality of spaced, identical, parallel, longitudinally extending metal sections joined along their rear surfaces at their extremities. The panels 18 are positioned within a channel defined by depending webs d4 and 54 of front and back top members 2 and 14 and rest on the upper surfaces of the horizontal inner supporting flanges t6 and 56. Each panel 18 may simply be lifted out when required, so as to provide ready access to the interior of the enclosure unit.

It will be seen that the arrangement described for supporting the front panels 12 and top panels 18 permits both panels to be straight-forwardly lifted out of position to provide complete vertical and lateral access to the interior of the enclosure along its length in a new and improved manner.

The use of pressed sheet metal access panels in place of the front panels is provided in another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGURE 6. In this embodiment, front panel 12 is replaced by a pressed metal panel 8S provided with longitudinally extending, vertically spaced stamped louver openings. The vertical extremities of access panel 88 abut resilient strips 34 and 86 positioned on the interior surfaces of webs 51 and 80 of front top and bottom members in their secured portion, and are provided with longitudinally extending bent over portions 90 and 92 to increase their buckling rigidity and to provide secure engagement in position.

The longitudinal extremities of each access panel 88 include rearwardly extending vertical iianges 9d` which are of a width equal to that of channels 71 and 81 of top and bottom front supports 2 and 6 so as to be received therein in their secured position. Outlet panel 18 may similarly be replaced by a pressed metal outlet panel 96.

Panels 88 and 96 may be easily lifted out of position as before to provide ready access to the interior of the enclosure from both lateral and vertical directions.

FIGURE 7 shows a modified form of mounting for a top panel according to the invention, utilizing a pressed metal outlet panel 98 in which the rearward extremity 10G of the panel is slidably received within 'upper channel 31 of wall attachment member 16. This construction does not require a second top member.

FIGURES 8 and 9 disclose further embodiments of the present invention adapted to support and house tin tube radiators.

FIGURE 8 discloses two side-by-side tin tube radiators generally denoted as 162 and 104, supported on floor mounted, longitudinally spaced U-shaped brackets 106, each of which includes a central base portion 108 and two upstanding vertical arms 110. The iin tube radiators 192, 104 are supported on the brackets 106 by vertically extending supports resting on roller bearings, generally denoted as 112, `which permit the n tube radiators to expand longitudinally without distorting the brackets 166.

In order to support each of the brackets 106 above the floor, a plurality of pairs of laterally spaced vertically extending Z-shaped brackets 113 is provided.

The iin tube radiators are enclosed within a spaced opposed vertical housing walls 114 supported on the forward vertical arm 11d of each bracket 106, extending continuously longitudinally the length of the unit enclosure. The lower extremity of each housing wall 114 is provided with a horizontal rearwardly extending ange 116 abutting the base of each U-shaped bracket 196.

At its upper extremity, each housing wall 114 is pro-l vided with a longitudinally extending top member 118. Top member 11S comprises a horizontal web 12d extending inwardly from the upper extremity of housing wall 114, having a depending web 122 at its rearward examaca? tremity. Web 122 and housing wall 110 define a channel 124 within which the upper extremity of the vertical arms 110 of the U-brackets are received.

The free extremity of each lweb 122 is provided with a horizontal rearwardly extending flange 126 provided with a horizontal, longitudinally extending channel 128 defined by spaced upper and lower flanges 130 and 132. A plurality of longitudinally spaced cross members 134 having their opposed extremities received within channels 128 join the top members to maintain their lateral spacing and increase the rigidity of the enclosure.

Bolted connections between the extremities of the cross member 134 and the horizontal iianges 130 and 132 may be provided, if desired.

A longitudinally extending Ushaped divider 136 extends centrally along the upper surface of the enclosure and is supported on the support lmembers 134. U-shaped divider 136 is provided with two horizontally disposed sidewardly directed longitudinally extended fianges 138 and 140 which abut cross members 134 and may be secured thereto.

Removable outlet panels 18 of the form previously described extend along the upper surface of the enclosure on either side of the U-shaped divider 136. The panels 18 are supported on the upper surfaces of upper flanges 130 of the top members and the upper flanges 138 and 140 of the divider.

As in all the embodiments of this invention, the upper panels may thus be easily removed to gain access to the interior of the enclosure by simply lifting them out of position without need for detaching the entire enclosure or for releasing any retaining device.

FIGURE 9 shows one form of end structure provided for the embodiment of the unit enclosure invention shown in FIGURE 8. L-shaped, ribbed, vertical corner member 142 and similarly shaped horizontal corner member 144 are positioned at the longitudinal extremities of the enclosure and fixedly position an end Wall 146 in position so as to enclose the interior of the unit.

In constructing a ventilated enclosure unit according to the present invention, it will be seen that `a structure for housing a room heat exchanger or the like which provides easier access to its interior than heretofore achievable is obtained. Furthermore, such access may be gained without requiring the enclosure unit to be entirely removed from its supports or without requiring any retaining device to be released beforehand. Furthermore, the present invention provides a ventilated unit enclosure which may be adjusted laterally and vertically to enable the unit to conform properly to the surfaces of the Wall i and iioor of the building in which it is to be installed irrespective of any substantial dimensional irregularities therein. The present invention also offers the advantages that it may be erected at the site of the installation by relatively unskilled labor and does not require to be preformed to its final dimensions at a remote factory. Furthermore, the structure described offers considerable advantages of durability `and rigidity thereby giving enhanced performance in use. Additionally, the louvered panels forming a part of the invention lend themselves to production in pleasing shapes such as to give `attractive shadow effects and a superior appearance to the finished unit. The appearance of the unit is further enhanced by the manner in `which all the bolted connections between parts of the unit are concealed within its interior and hidden from view.

Although the invention in its preferred first embodiment provides a unit enclosure having a front wall mounted on the oor and a top wall secured to a rear wall of a building, it is apparent that other forms of the invention may be provided. For example, the front wall of the enclosure may be mounted at its opposed longitudinal extremities to end walls of the building instead of to the iioor. Additionally, a free-standing unit enclosure not adjacent a rear wall of the building, but comprising two spaced vertical Walls supported on oormounted brackets, may be provided.

Similarly, the second embodiment of the invention providing a strap hung, heat exchanger enclosure and support may be varied, so as to include, for example, provision for mounting the enclosure of a vertical wall of a building.

It will be -appreciated that the terms top, bottom, front, and rear, as used to describe ventilated unit enclosure components are merely employed to indicate the relative placement of such components with respect to one another and are not intended as a limitation. Further, although the invention is described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that additions, deletions, modifications, substitutions, and other changes not specifically described and illustrated in the preferred embodiment may be made which will wall Within the purview of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A unit enclosure adapted to receive equipment within the enclosure comprising:

at least one longitudinally extending generally vertical first wall means adapted to be positioned adjacent a second wall means defining an interior space therebetween,

joining means for spacing said first wall means from said second Wall means,

at least one of said first and second wall means inclu-ding longitudinally extending top member means, said top member means including a downwardly directed upper channel defined by spaced opposed downwardly directed central and outer webs,

a plurality of longitudinally spaced vertically extending mullions having their upper extremities received 'within said upper channel and depending from said top member means, each said mullion defined by opposed, vertically extending, side surfaces,

longitudinally projecting supporting anges positioned along adjacent side surfaces of adjacent mullions, each said supporting flange extending vertically from the lower extremity of said mullion to a point below the upper extremity of said mullion,

longitudinally extending, horizontally disposed bottom member means positioned along the lower extremities of said mullions, said bottom member including a lower channel for receiving the lower extremities of said mullions defined by two spaced opposed upwardly directed inner and outer webs,

and a plurality of vertical panels removably positioned between said top and bottom member means, each said vertical panel extending longitudinally between adjacent mullions,

each said panel having its outer surface adjacent its upper and lower extremities abutting the inner sur-r faces of said. -outer webs of said top and bottom member means and having its inner surface adjacent its longitudinal extremities abutting said supporting flanges on adjacent said mullions,

whereby each said panel may be removed by lifting it upwardly out of said lower channel and swinging it forwardly out of and down from said upper channel.

2. A unit enclosure as described in claim 1 including:

laterally extending upper surfaces on each of said first and second wall means,

spaced opposed downwardly extending vertical surfaces at the opposed inner edges of said upper surfaces, defining a channel communicating with the interior space,

a longitudinally extending panel removably positioned 4within said channel,

and supporting means positioned on each of said vertical surfaces for supporting said panel within said channel.

3. A unit enclosure .adapted for installation above a floor means to receive equipment within the enclosure comprising:

' at least one longitudinally extending, generally vertical first wall means adapted to be positioned adjacent a second wall means defining an interior space therebetween,

spaced opposed first and second top members supported on said first and second wall means, t

a vertical surface on each of said first and second to members abutting an adjacent vertical surface on each of said first and second wall means respectively, first securing means on said vertical surfaces of said top members and said wall means for connecting each of said first and second top members to said first and second wall means respectively,

supporting means positioned adjacent the lower extremity of at least one of said first and second wall means for connecting said one of said wall means to said floor means,

said supporting means including a vertical surface abutting a vertical surface of said one of said w-all means, and a horizontal surface abutting the floor means,

second securing means on said vertical surfaces of supporting means and said one of said vertical wall means for connecting said supporting means and said wall means,

each of said first and second securing means including laterally elongate fasteners received within vertically elongate holes in the vertical surfaces of said top members and said supporting means respectively to permit the height of the unit to be varied vertically during installation,

each of said first and second top members including a longitudinally extending horizontally disposed inwardly directed lower flange,

a plurality of longitudinally spaced cross members supported adjacent their extremities on said lower flanges of said first and second top members and secured thereto by third securing means,

a laterally extending upper surface on each of said first and second top members spaced above said lower flange, each said upper surface including a depending web positioned at its inward extremity,

a horizontally disposed central flange positioned at the free extremity of each said depending web abutting said cross members connected thereto by fourth securing means,

each of said third and fourth securing means including a vertically elongate fastener received within a laterally elongate hole in said cross member positioned adjacent one of said inner and central flanges to permit the width of the unit to be varied during installation.

4. A unit enclosure adapted to receive equipment within the enclosure comprising:

at least one longitudinally extending, generally vertical, first wall means adapted to be positioned adjacent a second wall means defining an interior space therebetween,

spaced opposed first and second top member means supported on said rst and second wall means respectively,

each of said first and second top member means including a longitudinally extending horizontally disposed inwardly directed lower flange,

a plurality of longitudinally spaced cross members supported adjacent their extremities on said lower flanges of said first and second top member means and secured thereto by securing means,

a laterally extending upper surface on each of said first and second top member means spaced above said lower flanges, each said upper surface including a depending web positioned at its inward extremity,

l@ said depending webs defining a channel communieating with the interior space,

a horizontally disposed central flange positioned at the free extremity of each said depending webs abutting said cross members connected thereto by securing means, and

a longitudinally extending panel removably positioned within the channel defined by said depending webs supported on said central flanges,

each of said securing means connecting said cross members to said flanges including a vertically elongate fastener passing through aligned holes provided in said cross member and the adjacent flange, each of the holes in each said cross member being laterally elongate to permit the width of the enclosure to be varied during site installation.

5. A unit enclosure adapted to receive equipment within the enclosure comprising:

at least one longitudinally extending generally vertical first wall means adapted to be positioned adjacent a second wall means defining an interior space therebetween,

at least one of said wall means including,

longitudinally extending top member means including a downwardly directed upper channel defined by spaced opposed downwardly directed central and outer webs.

a plurality of longitudinally spaced, vertically extending, mullions having their upper extremities received in said upper channel and depending from said top member means,

each said mullion dened by opposed, vertically extending, side surfaces,

longitudinally projecting supporting flanges positioned along adjacent side surfaces of adjacent mullions, each said supporting flange extending vertically from the lower extremity of said mullion to a point below the upper extremity of said mullion,

a longitudinally extending, horizontally disposed bottom member means extending along the lower extremities of said mullions, said bottom member including a lower channel for receiving the lower extermity of said mullions defined by two spaced opposed upwardly directed inner and outer webs, and

a plurality of vertical panels removably positioned between said top and bottom member means, each said vertical panel extending between adjacent said mullions,

each said panel having Iits outer surface adjacent its upper and lower extremities abutting the inner surfaces of said outer webs of said top and bottom member means and having its inner surface adjacent its longitudinal extremities abutting said supporting flanges on adjacent said mullions whereby each said panel may be removed by lifting it upwardly out of said lower channel and then swinging it forwardly out of and down from said upper channel,

second top member means supported on the upper extremity of the other of said first and second wall means,

each of said top member means including a horizontally disposed longitudinally extending inwardly directed lower flange,

a plurality of longitudinally spaced laterally extending cross members having their opposed extremities supported on said lower flanges of said first and second top member means secured thereto by securing means,

a laterally extending top surface on each of said first and second top member means vertically spaced above said lower flange, each said upper surface including a depending web at its inward extremity, said depending webs defining a channel therebetween communicating with the interior space,

ll l

a horizontal central flange positione-d at the free extremity of each said depending web abutting the cross members connected thereto by securing means,

a longitudinally extending panel removably positioned Within the channel defined by said depending webs supported 0n said central flanges,

each of said securing means connecting said cross members to said flanges including a vertically elongate fastener passing through aligned holes provided in said cross member and the adjacent ange, each of the holes in each said cross member being laterally elongate to permit the width of the enclosure to be varied during site installation.

6. A unit enclosure as described in claim 3 including:

fifth securing means -on said horizontal surface of said supporting means for connecting said supporting means to the oor means,

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS .ludelson 52-62 Johnson 312-257 X Sherry 237-79 Klein 312-257 Phillips 237-79 15 CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Primary Examiner. 

1. A UNIT ENCLOSURE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE EQUIPMENT WITHIN THE ENCLOSURE COMPRISING: AT LEAST ONE LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING GENERALLY VERTICAL FIRST WALL MEANS ADAPTED TO BE POSITONED ADJACENT A SECOND WALL MEANS DEFINING AN INTERIOR SPACE THEREBETWEEN, JOINING MEANS FOR SPACING SAID FIRST WALL MEANS FROM SAID SECOND WALL MEANS, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND WALL MEANS INCLUDING LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING TOP MEMBER MEANS, SAID TOP MEMBER MEANS INCLUDING A DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED UPPER CHANNEL DEFINED BY SPACED OPPOSED DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED CENTRAL AND OUTER WEBS, A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED VERTICALLY EXTENDING MULLIONS HAVING THEIR UPPER EXTREMITIES RECEIVED WITHIN SAID UPPER CHANNEL AND DEPENDING FROM SAID TOP MEMBER MEANS, EACH SAID MULLION DEFINED BY OPPOSED, VERTICALLY EXTENDING, SIDE SURFACES, LONGITUDINALLY PROJECTING SUPPORTING FLANGES POSITIONED ALONG ADJACENT SIDE SURFACES OF ADJACENT MULLIONS EACH SAID SUPPORTING FLANGE EXTENDING VERTICALLY FROM THE LOWER EXTREMITY OF SAID MULLION TO A POINT BELOW THE UPPER EXTREMITY OF SAID MULLION, LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING, HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED BOTTOM MEMBER MEANS POSITIONED ALONG THE LOWER EXTREMITIES OF SAID MULLIONS, SAID BOTTOM MEMBER INCLUDING A LOWER CHANNEL FOR RECEIVING THE LOWER EXTREMITIES OF SAID MULLIONS DEFINED BY TWO SPACED OPPOSED UPWARDLY DIRECTED INNER AND OUTER WEBS, 